Mechanical check list



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. H. GRACE MECHANICAL CHECK LIST Dec. 26, 1950 Filed Feb. 5, 1947 2 25 WWW Dec. 26, 1950 w. H. GRACE 2,535,408

MECHANICAL CHECK LIST 2 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Feb. 5, 1947 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL CHECK LIST William H. Grace, Stamford, Conn.

Application February 5, 1947, Serial No. 726,481

(Cl. ill-132.1)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical check list for checking oil a number of different operations or features and providing a visual check for temporary record of items completed or accomplished.

It has for an object to provide a checklist which can be used in transportation machines, such as airplanes, boats, trains, etc., for the purpose of indicating to the operator the correct order of starting, running and stopping such machines. It may also be used in buildings, hotels, and apartments to check and thus insure completion of janitorial and other duties, or which may be used in any other position where it is desirous to have a check on a series of items which are to be accomplished.

It has for its further object to provide a means for checking on a series of items and also to provide a means for unchecking them, for example, in case there should be a change in the condition of such items.

It has for a further object to provide a check list as heretofore described which can be either portable or stationary and which may be lighted for use by day or night.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention it not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the device with portions broken away to show detail;

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the bottom of Fig. 1 with a portion sectioned to show detail;

Fig, 3 is a partial view showing a slight modification of the device;

Fig. 4 is a partial side view showing a further modification of the device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the checkoff operating means;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the check-off operating means shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial view of the check-off oper- .ating means in the form of the device shown in .Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8-8, Fig. 1.

, The device comprises a suitable casing l0 comprising a, substantially rectangular box with a bottom member H, side members I2 and end members 13.. box is v d d with a suit able transparent cover l4 composed of glass or other suitable material, the cover id being hinged to one of the sides I2, as at [5, and lifted or opened by any suitable handle Ma. The box l0 may be composed of wood, metal, plastic or other suitable material. Within the box it) secured to the sides and ends around the interior of the box is a ridge it providing a narrow shelf to support an inner cover or support H which is composed of frosted glass or other suitable translucent material. The second cover I: is in a position immediately beneath the hinged cover l4 and provides a support upon which a piece of paper It with a list of items We written or typewritten on it may be placed. The paper is sufficiently transparent that the typed or other notations on it are clearly visible by illumination from beneath it or within the box. The top cover l4 may then be placed over the type-written paper l8 holding the typewritten paper I 8 securely between covers l4 and I1. A series of lights [9 suitab y located within the box IE] provide illumination whereby light will shine through the covers M-and l1 and the paper [8, making the written or typewritten words on the paper easily readable.

Means for checking off the items written on this paper is comprise a series of colored transparent or translucent strips 20, one for each of the items on the paper i8, the strips 2!) being each secured to a shaft 2!, the shaft 2| being supported at its ends in notches 22 in the shelf 1% on the sides [2, so that the colored strips 20 may easily be swung with the shaft 2| as a pivot. Associated with each strip 29 is a slidable rod or bar 23 which is supported by being inserted through suitable openings 25 in the sides [2 of the box Ill. Each bar or rod 23 protrudes from the sides of thebox and is provided with a hand knob 25 or 25a at either or both ends to provide a means for sliding the rod 23 back and forth. Projecting from the upper edge of the rod 23 is a cam or lug 25, the cam or lug 26 being rounded at its upper end, and the rod 23 being set in the sides l2 at a slight angle so that the top edge of the cam 26 will ride against the edge of the colored strip 20, causing the colored strip to swing about its pivot 2i into a horizontal position when the rod 23 is moved to the left, as shown in dotted lines, Fig, 5. A tension spring 2'! around the strip supporting shaft 2| and anchored to the strip 23 and the recess 22 provides means for holding the colored strip 20 normally in .the vertical position and thus provides a means for returning the strip 29 to the vertical position when the rod 23 is shifted to the right (see Fig. 5). A second cam or lug 28 protrudes from the lower edge of the rod 23 and, as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the rod 23 is to the right, the cam 28 is to the right of a small spring catch 29 secured to the bottom I I of the box. The spring catch 29 protrudes far enough from the bottom l! of the box to engage the lug 28 and yield when the rod 23 is shifted to the left, thus providing a definite snap to catch or look when the rod 23 is shifted back and forth from left toright to thus give a definite click or feel to the operation of the rod.

It is clear that an desirable number of these colored strips may be provided. However, when a large number are used, their operating rods 23 may be arranged in tiers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to permit use ofmore of them in a given space and provide a sufficient space for each, so that the operator will not be liable to push more than one button at a time when he is wearing gloves, for example, or when h s hands are. cold. The only modification necessary is to put the hand buttons 25' on differ nt lev ls in a box; I 0 with higher sides I2, and to increase the height of t e cam 26' so that its u per ed-e will engage the colored stri s as s o n in Fig; '7'.

The source of power for t e lights 9 he etofo e d scribed may comprise batteries not shown) or it may b plugged into any s itable outlet by means of a cord" extension and plug 39. Thus it is clear, to operate the device te top cover M is raised and a st ip of pa er ith items written, printed, or typewritten thereon i placed over the second cover ll. The co er Hi is t en placed down ov r the paper (8 and the device is ready for use. Let us; assume, for example, that the operator is a pilot of an airplane. The items list d on the paper It give such inform tion as is necessary for the pilot to check for the t keoff. The pilot th n, by glancing at the device, can; readily see when he gets into a shi that none of the items listed on' the paper lg have been checked; This information is conveyed to him by the fact that all of the colored strips 29 the pilot 0; K. It is to be understood, however,

that the item checked is still read ble as the colored strip 25 is translucent to permit the passage of light through it. The pilot then proceeds to check-off; in a like manner, all the other items on, the list. Now, should the pilot get word from the control'tower to wait a minute or two as there is another plane coming in, and the pilot does not" wish to' let his airplane run at the. take- 01rspeed while waiting, he will readjust the mixture for idling. As he does so, he may then through this device uncheck that item on the list by pushing the buttonZEa for this item which permits the corresponding colored strip 2.1T to return to, its vertical. position and the typed item on thesheet [8' to appear on a. white background. Then, when. a couple of minutes later he, gets word from the control tower. to take off immediately,, he. glances. at the list and finds that this feature is-still uncheckedso he immediately sets back his mixture for the take-off; Without this;

checking means it might be perfectly possible for the pilot to attempt the take-off with his engine running on an idling mixture, resulting in a crash. However, if it were compulsory for pilots t use this device as a part of the take-ofi procedure, for example, many crashes of this type would be eliminated.

It is to be understood, however, that this device is not limited to use for aircraft, but may be used in buildings, or factories or other places, where, for example, an employee has an established list of duties to perform at a certain time. It can be used in various transportation machin-es, such as airplanes, boats, trains, buses,

. trucks, cars and so forth, and any other machine or plant, for the purpose of using the correct order in. starting, running. and stopping such machines. It can also be used in buildings for similar utilty, to show when the factory, apartment or house is ready for use (e. g., heat, power, and water turned on) and in closing up such buildings, such items as utilities turned on, windo s closed, etc. It ca-nbe used in-hot ls and apartments to show such items, for example, as completion of janitorial, kitchen workers and other helps duties. Similerly' in ho es to show order or completion of oooks"ma-ids and gardners duties; for completion of childrens-chorcs, such asbrus ing teeth, chop ping wood, putting out cat at nig t, and so forth.

For conv niences sake, the colored strips 20 ey b placed' so that they will cover information written on a standard typewriter b placing the color d strips so that they are one, two or three spaces apart. Thus, for example, take the type of device shown in Fig. 1, where the colored strips 28 are triple-sp ced; the list I8 may merely be inserted in the standardv ty ewriter and the information itemized on the list tri l -s aced. In t is manner, eachit m may be checked off by a corresponding colored strip. If it is desirous of using more items. the device in the form sho n in Figs. 4 and 7 may be used, where the buttons are tiered so that-more buttons may be provided. Int is instance, the items in the list. [8 may be double or s ngle spaced as. the colored strips 20 are placed a corresponding distance from each other.

Having thus set forth the nature. of my invention, I cl im:

I. A checking device of the character described comprising a support adapted to hold a light transmitting sheet on which various items are marked, means for illuminating said sheet, a colored light fransmiting strip associated with each item, a shaft mounting each strip so that it may be swung to and from positions over and away from its item to impart contrasting appearanc s thereto, and manually operable means controlling the position of each strip including a slidable rod provided with means for shifting said rod in opposite directions to control the position of the strip.

2; A checking device of the characterdescribed comprising means for support ng a paper sheet on which various items are typed, means for illuminating the sheet, a colored strip associated with each item, means for pivotaliy mounting each strip so that it may swing to and from a position over its associated item to impart contrasting appearances thereto, a slidable rod associated with each strip, a cam on each rod for shifting the strip, and manual means for'shifting each rod. v

3. A checking device of the character described comprising means for supporting a paper sheet on which various items are typed, means for illuminating the sheet, a colored strip associated with each item, means pivotally mounting each strip so that it may swing to and from a position over its associated item to impart contrasting appearances thereto, a spring tending to swing each strip away from its item, a slidable rod adjacent each strip, a cam on the rod for shifting the adjacent strip to a position over its item, manual means for shiftin each rod in opposite directions, and spring means for holding each rod in its different positions.

4. A checking device of the character described comprising a box, a translucent plate covering one side of the box and adapted to support a paper sheet on which various items are typed, a, glass cover over the sheet to retain it on the plate, means in the box for illuminating the sheet from the inner side, a colored translucent strip associated with the location for each item, means pivotally mounting each strip to swing to and from a position over its associated item to give it contrasting appearances, a spring tending to swing each strip in one direction, a sliding rod for each strip, a cam operated by each rod to swing the associated strip in the opposite direction, and manual means for shifting each rod in opposite directions.

5. A checking device of the character described comprisin a box, a translucent plate covering one side of the box and adapted to support a paper sheet on which various items are typed, a glass cover over the sheet to retain it on the plate, means in the box for illuminating the sheet from the inner side, a colored translucent strip associated with the location for each item, means pivotally mounting each strip to swing to and from a position ove its associated item to give it contrasting appearances, a spring tending to swing each strip in one direction, a sliding rod for each strip, a cam on each rod adapted to engage the associated strip to swing it in the opposite direction, said rods being guided in the side of the box and arranged with adjacent rods at diiferent distances from the cover, and manual means for shifting each rod in opposite directions.

6. A checking device of the character described comprisin a box, means for supporting a light transmitting sheet on which various items are marked over one side of the box, means for illuminating said sheet, a colored light transmitting strip associated With each item, means pivotally mounting each strip to swing to and from a position over its associated item to give it contrasting appearances, a slidable rod associated with each strip, said rods bein slidable in sides of the box and arranged with adjacent rods spaced dilTerent distances from the sheet, means operated by each rod for controlling the positions of the associated strip, and manual means for shifting each rod in opposite directions to control its associated strip.

WILLIAM H. GRACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,605,429 Fisher Nov. 2, 1926 1,616,687 Gerner Feb. 8, 1927 2,292,069 Gruver Aug. 4, 1942 2,324,934 June July 20, 1943 

